Apparatus for and method of splash painting



Oct. 25, 1966 H. P. HEYDE APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF SPLASH PAINTING Filed June 13. 1963 fiTTORA/EYS United States Patent 3,280,792 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF SPLASH PAINTING Harvey P. Heyde, Sappington, Mo., assignor of one-half to John Grupp, Sn, St. Louis, Mo. Filed June 13, 1963, Ser. No. 287,652 1 Claim. (Cl. 118-52) The present invention relates generally to educational amusement devices, and more particularly to a novel apparatus for and a method of splash painting.

In brief, the present novel splash painting apparatus comprises a rotatable platform, preferably annular, which supports removable discs of paper or other suitable selected material. The platform is mounted in a horizontal position within a container on the free upper end of an extended rotor of an electric motor. The motor is mounted beneath the container, the latter being supported below the plane of a cabinet, table or other support at a position for ready access by those desired to use the apparatus. The container includes an annular paint well at the bottom having a removable liner and an annular paint trap extending outwardly from the sides thereof. Suitable means are provided for supporting a plurality of small containers for different colored paints. A control switch and appropriate indicator lights are also provided.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel splash painting apparatus which is effective in making interesting designs.

Another object is to provide a novel splash painting apparatus which incorporates excess paint trapping means for substantially eliminating throwing of paint beyond the confines of the container within which the splash painting is accomplished, and which includes disposable means facilitating removal of excess paint.

Another object is to provide a novel splash painting apparatus which can be readily employed by any user in making interesting patterns.

Another object is to provide a novel method of splash painting by the use of a rotating platform including the step of rotating the platform at a speed which will provide interesting designs upon a disc of paper placed upon the platform.

Other objects are to provide a novel splash painting apparatus which is portable, simple in construction, inexpensive as to initial costs, maintenance, and use, and which requires little or no skill for effective and satisfactory employment thereof.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a two-unit splash painting apparatus incorporating the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the splash painting apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal, cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1, the motor and platform being in elevation;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, crosssectional view taken on substantially the line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a disc upon which a splash painting design is made through the use of the present novel apparatus; and

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of the present novel splash painting apparatus, as illustrated, showing the cabinet and cover assembled for transportation or storage.

Ice

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, 10 indicates generally a splash painting apparatus incorporating the concepts of the present invention. As illustrated, the splash apparatus 10 includes two identical units, but a greater or lesser number may be employed, as desired. For detailed description, reference will be made to a single unit.

Broadly, the splash painting apparatus 10 includes a supporting cabinet 12, a container 14 suspended within the cabinet 12, a motor 16 suspended from the bottom of the container 14, a platform 18 operatively connected to the rotor of the motor 16 for rotation therein and disposed within the container 14, and a switch unit 20 operatively connected with the motor 16. As illustrated, the supporting cabinet 12 rests upon an inverted cover or housing cabinet 22 which receives the former for transportation or storage, as shown in FIGURE 7.

The container 14 is of the form and cross section clearly illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 and includes an annular top flange 24 by means of which it is suspended from the top of the cabinet 12, access being had thereto through an opening 26 in the top of the cabinet 12. The container 14 also includes an annular channel 28 which traps paint thrown from the revolving platform 18, an annular excess paint well 30 receiving a removable split overlapping lining 31 having self-adhering backing, or the like, and a reentrant bottom portion 32. A ferrule 33 is included to stop paint from dripping onto the motor 16. The lining 31 may be of disposable material or of material that can be readily cleaned. If a disposable lining 31 is used, normally it will be replaced after each use of the apparatus 10.

The motor 16 is suspended from the container portion 32 by bolt assemblies 34 and rubber grommets 36, which dampen or eliminate vibration. The motor 16 includes an elongated rotor 38 to the upper end of which is secured for rotation therewith the platform 18 by means of a hub 40 and setscrew, and an intermediate disc member 42 welded or otherwise secured to the platform 18. The platform 18 includes spaced return lugs 44 which retain a disc 46 of paper or other suitable material for the splash painting process. 7

The on and off switch 20 is connected by suitable leads to the motor 16 and to a plug-in extension cord (not shown). Green, amber and red indicator lights 48 are also connected into the circuit of the switch 20 by suitable leads to indicate the status of the splash painting apparatus 10. Associated with the on and off switch 20 is a timer 50 which automatically turns the switch to off upon expiration of a predetermined number of minutes, as three minutes, for example.

Paint cups 52 are mounted in openings 54 in the top of the cabinet 12 radially disposed about the opening 26 for ready access by one using the splash painting apparatus 10.

The operation of the splash painting apparatus 10 is apparent from the foregoing description. However, an important phase of the present invention is the rotation of the platform 18 at a speed which will give pleasing designs. A speed of one thousand to twelve hundred revolutions per minute has been developed as the range of operation for the platform 18 to make good and interesting designs. Too great a speed of rotation will simply throw the paint into the paint trap channel 28. A speed that is too slow will result in substantially no plash painting reaction.

The illustrated splash painting apparatus 10 is portable. However, it is to be understood that the support for the several parts of the apparatus 10 may be in the form of a stationary counter, which, of course, can be moved, but it is not considered as portable.

It is apparent that there has been provided a novel splash painting apparatus and a novel method of splash painting which fulfill the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the several parts, substitution of equivalent elements or steps, and rearrangement of parts or steps, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claim which follows.

What is claimed is:

In combination, apparatus for making splash painting designs comprising a support, an open mouth cylindrical container mounted on said support, a platform rotatably mounted within said container and spaced downwardly from the mouth thereof, means for rotating said platform at predetermined speed, and means for starting and stopping said last means, said platform being adapted to receive and retain a sheet of material in exposed position below said container mouth for reception of drops of paint as the platform and sheet are rotated, said container including means for trapping paint thrown from a sheet on said platform as it revolves -to prevent passage upward through the container mouth comprising an annular concentric outwardly extending extending channel in and interrupting the cylindrical wall of said container, said channel being opposite said platform and of a vertical width and radial depth to catch paint spun outwardly by said platform to prevent splashing up through the mouth of the container, the upper side of said channel being substantially .below the top of the container, said channel permitting full utilization of the diameter of said container and reducing paint splattering of the container wall above the channel to a minimum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,413,219 4/1922 Gerson 312-8 1,653,255 12/1927 Comp 117 101 1,981,453 11/1934 Hyde 117-101 2,236,992 4/1941 Broadley 99-446 15 2,238,866 4/1941 Roberts 35-26 2,557,348 6/1951 Hornbostel.

2,646,808 7/1953 Yenne 134 110 X 2,993,235 7/1961 Browne et al 117101 X 3,106,887 10/1963 Bryl 99 425 FOREIGN PATENTS 761,262 3/1954 Germany.

OTHER REFERENCES Spiegel 1962 Xmas book recd in mail October 17, 1962,

pp. 356-357 only.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

